We will continue the split District 11 Finals for different flights on
different days. Please see the FAQ below for more details.

Part
of the beauty of duplicate bridge is that it allows us to enjoy the game at our
own pace. Many of us love to play at the club level, and some prefer
tournament-level games, or even national events.

The
North American Pairs, or NAP, is a special opportunity to give that “next
level” a try. The District 11 Board and the Cincinnati Bridge Association would
like to invite you to participate in the NAP
District Finals at the Cincinnati Bridge Center (November 4 & 5, 2017).

How
exactly does the NAP work? You may have heard of the NAP, or even “qualified”
at a local club game, but you may still have questions. . . . Hopefully, we can
provide some answers.

Q:
What is the NAP?

A:
The NAP event has been a major ACBL pair championship since 1979 and was
originally known as the Grand National Pairs. After several qualifying stages,
it culminates in a national final held in conjunction with the Spring NABC,
which will be held next in Philadelphia, PA, March 2018.

Q:
How is the event structured? How many pairs move on to the NAP Finals in
Dallas?

A:
The contest has three Flights: Flight A (open); Flight B (fewer than 2500
masterpoints); and Flight C (non-Life Master with fewer than 500 masterpoints).
Our District will send the top 3 pairs in Flight A and the top 4 in Flight B and Flight C from the District Finals on
to Philadelphia PA in March 2018

Q:
What are the “split” District Finals you referred to?

A:
All 3 Flights did not hold their District
Finals on the same day. The Finals for Flight B will be Saturday, November 4, and the
Finals for Flights A and C will be Sunday, November 5. Times are shown above.

The
2017 NAP District Finals will be at the Cincinnati Bridge Center, 2860 Cooper
Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241.

Q:
Does that mean I can play in the District Finals in more than one Flight?

A:
Yes! Of course, you need to be under the masterpoint limit in your Flight, and
you must have qualified at an NAPQ club game held in June through August 2017 (more on
that below), but you may play in the District Final in Flights A and B or in Flights
B and C. However, a person or pair may represent a district in only one flight
at the national level, so if you happen to place in the Top 3 in multiple
Flights at the District Finals, you will have to choose a Flight in which to
compete in Kansas City MO in March 2018.

Q:
I expect to make Life Master soon. I am ineligible for Flight C?

A:
The cutoff date for determining eligibility for the NAP is the June 2017
masterpoint cycle. This means that masterpoints won after May 6, 2017 will NOT
affect your eligibility for a particular Flight. In other words, if you weren’t
a Life Master on May 6, 2017, you’re eligible for Flight C. Similarly, if you
didn’t reach the 2500 masterpoint level as of May 6, 2017, you’re eligible for
Flight B. Check your June 2017 Bridge Bulletin for your masterpoint total that
counts for NAP eligibility.

Q:
What’s the deal with these “qualifying” games at my club?

A:
To play in the District Finals in Cincinnati, you must “qualify” at a local
club anywhere in the District. NAP Qualifying games may be held twice per month
at each club during the months of June, July, and August. To qualify for a
particular Flight at your club, you must finish in the top 50% of that section
(rounded up and including ties); in addition, any pair with at least an
“average” score not in the top half of a section also qualifies.

Q:
Why do I have to pay more for these “qualifying” games?

A:
The ACBL sanction fee is increased for these games, so that’s why most clubs
charge a bit more. However, NAP qualifying games are “100% sectionally rated,” paying
50/50 red / black points. This means that winners get triple the points than
they typically would at a “regular” club game. For an additional buck, it’s
really one of the best deals around!

Q:
Do I have to play in the District finals with a player I qualified with at the
club level?

A:
No, club level qualification is earned as an individual and not as a
partnership. You may play in club qualifying games with as many different
partners as desired. Both members of a partnership must, of course, be
individually qualified at the club level to play together at the District
Finals in Cincinnati.

Q:
Is there a Unit qualifying event?

A:
Some Districts have separate qualifying events at the Unit level; our
District has eliminated the Unit final, qualifying individuals directly from
the club level to the District Finals.

Q:
Do the winners of the District Finals receive any financial support?

A:
Yes! The first place winners of the District Finals in each Flight will receive
$700 per person, and the second place winners receive $300 per person. These
awards are paid directly from the ACBL at the tournament site. Our District has historically provided
a $100 per person award to the third place winners in each Flight, and we
expect to be able to do so again this year.

Q:
If my partner and I finish in the Top 3 or 4 in our Flight, do we have to go to
the Spring NABC?

A:
We’re not sure why you wouldn’t, as it’s a real honor to participate in the
National NAP Finals. However, if for some reason you or your partner can’t make
it (and there are no substitutions allowed), please let the ACBL know so they
can extend an invitation to the next place finisher in your Flight.

Q:
What color points do the NAP District Finals award?

A:
It’s a little complicated: the District Finals pay red points for session
awards, gold points for section tops in Flights A and B (red in Flight C), and
gold for overall awards (25% gold/75% red for Flight C).

Q:
What are the District Finals like?

A:
The NAP District 11 Finals are conducted as a two-session pairs event.
You must
play in both sessions. Flight A finals will be a Mitchell movement in
the morning and a Howell movement in the afternoon (attendance
permitting) to provide more head-to-head play and a fairer
overall result. Flights B&C will be Mitchell movements
throughout.

If
you have any questions about the NAP, please feel free to contact our District
NAP/GNT Coordinator, Ryan Schultz
schultzrr@gmail.com